Denver officer hurt in patrol car crash

By Manny Gonzales The Denver Post

DENVER, Colo. — Denver police were called out in force Tuesday night after a police officer was seriously injured in what officers initially thought was a hit and run.

Investigators at the scene were trying to determine whether the officer, a 30-plus-year veteran, was struck by another vehicle or swerved to miss another vehicle and struck a building, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

The extent of the officer's injuries wasn't immediately known.

The incident was reported just after 9:30 p.m., on York Street near the intersection with Interstate 70.

A female officer who happened upon the scene of the crash told dispatchers that only the cruiser was there, prompting all available units to search for a possible perpetrator.

The injured officer was pinned inside the vehicle, Jackson said.

Police shut down major portions of York Street and Eighth Avenue to Speer Boulevard so that an ambulance could transport the unidentified officer to Denver Health Medical Center.

Dispatchers initially reported that police were searching for a yellow vehicle with heavy front-end damage. However, the search was called off when it was determined that yellow paint on the wrecked patrol car could have come from the building, Jackson said.

"At this point, until we have a chance to talk to the officer, we're not sure what led up to it," he said.